"Timbershield" AKM
This project is nearly a year in the works, with the goal of creating a mixed-material furniture set for the AK series that provides modernized ergonomics while preserving the use of hardwoods for a nearly endless combination of color profiles. Here is my rifle that is currently the model build for the project as it continuously is improved and redesigned as a special interest of mine.
Filament
I have used so so many different materials and torture tested with live fire and other meangirl shit. You do you, but here's what I landed on for balancing cost against material properties like heat deflection and tensile strength yada yada and it's PET-GF. Honestly, the shit is fantastic. I'd love to print in PA6-CF/GF all the time but I am poor. You can print this whole set with a single roll of PET-GF for 35$ - 40$. If you are ballin on a budget you can probably get away with PLA+ for everything except the handguard. Don't skimp on the handguard or it will melt.
The pictured build is printed with Sirayatech Fibreheart PET-GF in Black (on the buttstock and charging handle), FDE (for the grip and light mount), and ODG (for the handguard). How convenient that this material is produced in these colors. Prints great and I cannot recommend enough. Sponsor me. The recoil pad is custom and it's printed with Sirayatech Flex TPU Air, which also fucking rules. Makes a huge difference in managing recoil, seriously. I also use it for a grippy shim inside the charging handle to keep that fucker on.
I use the Orca profiles provided by Sirayatech with gyroid infill @ 60% except for the handguards and light mount which are at 100% infill. Ironing all top surfaces. The recoil pad is printed gyroid @ 15%.
Buy your filament direct, fuck Amazon.
Hardwood
The hardwood I'm using are various 3-5mm craft wood sheets from anywhere they sell them. Try your local hobby store. You can get more than enough for this build for less than 15$. This build is sporting walnut on the stock, rosewood on the grip, and teak on the handguard. These are all good choices. I have also used wenge - which looks like a millennial's hardwood flooring, but has excellent moisture resistance and hardness. All of these woods are easily cut with a diode laser because of their color. Maple is nice but more challenging to work with. You do you.
Fasteners
I know you almost have to get heatserts on Amazon, so I'm redesigning things to use hex nuts so you can source stuff locally. Right now, my build uses these fasteners.
- M3x20 Screws (x2)
- M3 Heatserts (x2)
- M4x10 Screws (x7)
- M4 T-nuts (x6)
- M4x30 Screws (x2)
- M4 Heatserts (x3)
- M4x8 Screw (x1)
- M4x35 Screws (x2)
- M4 Nuts (x2)
- M6x30 Screws (x1)
- AK Grip nut (x1)
Etc
The rifle in this build is a RAK-47-C from Riley Defense, purchased at my local pawn shop used for less than $500 - that was several years ago. I am running a Primary Arms GL series 1x microprism on a side mounted AK Master mount with a rear preference and a Olight baldr flashlight on the left side of the pictured barrel mount.
Thanks for checking out my build :)